MSC Cruises has finalised the revamp of four ships which will spearhead a push into new markets and further strengthen its position in others.
The €200 million ‘Renaissance’ programme, announced last year, covered MSC Lirica (pictured), MSC Opera, MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia.
The upgraded ships will see the line start operations from China and Cuba in addition to providing crusies from Durban in South Africa and the western Mediterranean.
MSC Lirica, the final ship to be revamped, will be deployed in Shanghai from May 2016 with MSC Opera starting sailing from Havana next month.
MSC Sinfonia will maintain departures from South Africa to Mozambique, Namibia, Reunion Island and Mauritius.
MSC Armonia, based in Genoa, sails to a range of ports in the Med, including some less accessible to bigger ships, such as Ibiza and Port Mahon in Menorca.
The line’s chief executive, Gianni Onorato, said much of the renovation project was carried out with families in mind. Every ship now has five separate clubs for children up to 17 years old, including two designed and equipped by leading childhood brands Chicco and Lego.
He said: “Renaissance is the first pillar of MSC Cruises’ second growth phase, while the four next-generation new builds we’ll launch between 2017 and 2019 are the second.
“Renaissance has delivered four holistically improved ships that will serve strategic segments of the global cruise market with the standard-setting experiences, amenities and service that are synonymous with MSC Cruises today.”